Boris Johnson will today announce a long-term plan to 'live with Covid' in England - despite hundreds of deaths a day.
The Prime Minister is expected to scrap all self-isolation, even for people who have the virus, from around Thursday.
He is also likely to confirm the date free lateral flow and PCR tests will be axed - although is not expected to actually happen this week.
The £500 self-isolation payment for low-income workers and legal powers for councils both face being scrapped.
And the Mirror understands he was weighing up whether to axe sick pay from day one of Covid isolation, despite fury from unions and Labour.
Scroll down for the full guide to the changes - or join the debate in the comments
For holidaymakers, Passenger Locator Forms could be simplified further, or even scrapped completely if Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gets his way.
Travel testing, however, is likely to stay for unvaccinated people entering the UK for the foreseeable future.
Mr Johnson is likely to give a statement to Parliament at around 3.30pm on Monday. He could also give a press conference.
Facing pressure from Tory MPs over his leadership, the PM has decided Britain has had all the restrictions it can tolerate.
Speaking before his announcement on Monday, the Prime Minister said: "Today will mark a moment of pride after one of the most difficult periods in our country's history as we begin to learn to live with Covid.
"It would not be possible without the efforts of so many - the NHS who delivered the life-saving vaccine rollout at phenomenal speed, our world-leading scientists and experts, and the general public for their commitment to protecting themselves and their loved ones.
"The pandemic is not over but thanks to the incredible vaccine rollout we are now one step closer towards a return to normality and finally giving people back their freedoms while continuing to protect ourselves and others."
It comes after ministers confirmed all children over five will be able to get the Covid vaccine from April.
But charities worry millions of vulnerable or immunocompromised Brits will be "thrown to the wolves" with little support.
And the government's own scientific advisors have warned ending testing and isolation could trigger a "rapid" rise in cases.
Here’s everything we know about what is likely to be announced.
Self-isolation laws scrapped
Legal Covid self-isolation is due to be scrapped - even if you currently have the virus - from as soon as Thursday 24 February.
The decision will end almost exactly two years of legally-enforced isolation for people who test positive.
But it raises ethical dilemmas about whether to go to work and put others at risk, especially if you can no longer claim a £500 isolation payment or sick pay from day one (see below).
Despite scrapping legal isolation, No10 said: “We’re not saying isolation is pointless. We’d expect anyone with an infectious disease to take steps not to spread that disease further - a colleague at work with flu, for example."
Currently people who test positive must go into self-isolation for at least five full days in England, a period that has been repeatedly cut from 10 days and seven days.
Fears Statutory Sick Pay will be stripped back
Boris Johnson has been weighing up whether to scrap sick pay from day one of Covid illness, the Mirror understands.
£96.35-a-week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is usually only available from the fourth day of any illness, after three ‘waiting days’ are complete.
This was cut to the first day in 2020 for people isolating due to Covid. Ministers said the move was “vital” to ensure people get help and follow the rules.
But the power is contained in the Coronavirus Act, which is currently due to expire on March 24.
That means it could be removed, even though No10 has advised people who are sick with the virus to stay away from work.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s vital that sick pay remains a day one right and is made available to all. Workers who are laid low by Covid must be able to make ends meet – not pushed into financial hardship.”
A date for scrapping free lateral flow tests
Boris Johnson’s plan is expected to set a timetable for the end of free lateral flow tests, with people having to pay instead.
The government warned last summer it would eventually stop paying for these rapid tests due to the huge cost of the NHS.
Sources told the Mirror that claims the tests themselves will end this week are wide of the mark. However, the Living with Covid plan could set a date in the future for when they are cut off.
It’s not known how much lateral flow tests will cost, but estimates have put it at £30 for a pack of seven.
A date for scrapping free PCR tests and Test and Trace
It’s thought the plan may contain a date for ending free ‘gold standard’ PCR tests as England’s Covid infrastructure is wound down.
Whitehall sources told the Guardian the Treasury is trying to cut the £15bn-a-year cost, which will mean having to phase out free testing and all but ending the contact-tracing system.
Scientists have raised the alarm about ending these free tests, with reports suggesting they could cost £100 each privately.
According to reports, only health and social care workers and 1.3million vulnerable people will continue to get free PCRs.
Prof Lawrence Young of Warwick University said: “Living with Covid doesn’t mean letting our guard down”.
Covid travel Passenger Locator Form could be simplified or axed
Fully-vaccinated people entering the UK do not need to take any Covid tests, under changes that happened on February 11.
But they still need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form - albeit a ‘simplified’ one - and further changes to this are possible in this week’s Covid plan.
It’s understood the Department for Transport was pressing to further simplify the Passenger Locator Form - or get rid of it completely.
It is thought there was only a slim chance of the form being axed altogether, as health officials were still worried about needing to track new variants coming in to the UK.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated people still need to take one pre-departure test and one post-arrival test before entering the UK. It’s understood this rule will stay for the foreseeable future and no changes to it are due this week.
£500 self-isolation payment could be scrapped
The £500 self-isolation payment for poor workers with Covid could end as the legal requirement to quarantine is scrapped.
The Test and Trace Support Payment was introduced in September 2020 to help low-wage workers afford to self-isolate for up to 14 days.
No final decisions have been announced yet over the future of the £500 payment, and its status was being considered by the government last week.
Legal powers for councils will go
Legal changes will end remaining powers councils had under the 2020 Coronavirus Act in England to close some venues.
However, these powers were barely ever used, because powers for lockdowns flow from a separate law passed in 1984.
And the vast majority of Coronavirus Act powers - including on detention, events, gatherings, shops and restaurants and schools - already expired in September 2021.
Only a few of the more draconian powers - including the power to suspend port operations - remained in the Act.
Vaccines for all children over five
All children over five will be able to get vaccinated against Covid-19 from April.
The “non-urgent offer” to the parents of nearly six million 5-11 year olds was confirmed by the Government moments after advice issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Two smaller doses of the Pfizer jab, 12 weeks apart, will be available to this age group to help control future Covid waves after Covid curbs have been lifted.
It is understood there are no plans for a major publicity drive to encourage this age group to be vaccinated and it will be left very much up to parents to decide.
It's understood a rollout for over-5s will be less urgent than previous vaccine drives, due to the very low risk Covid poses to younger kids. The idea is that ordinary NHS care shouldn’t be interrupted to give kids the jab, like it was for adults.
All children over 12 have been able to get the Pfizer Covid jab since September last year.
Currently, only the most vulnerable kids aged 5 to 11 are eligible. They are offered two jabs but at a lower dose than for adults - 10 micrograms instead of 30.
